DeLille Cellars

One of my favorite spots in Woodinville for wine tasting has to be DeLille Cellars. And not because they have an outstanding outside patio, perfect for Washington summers. . . because they are truly one of the best and most consistent high end producers of Washington whites and reds.
DeLille is a small production winery that began production in the early '90s. They quickly became one of the most famous Washington wineries, producing some of the highest quality Bordeaux varietals in the state. I think they make the best Bordeaux style white outside of Bordeaux. This wine is called the Chaleur Estate Blanc and unfortunately they were sold out of the wine so I wasn't able to try the last vintage. I've tried the last six vintages of the Chaleur Estate Blanc and this wine is so good every year that they always sell out of it. One of their most popular wines is called D2, which is a Merlot dominant blend that tends to be a staple at many high end Seattle restaurants like El Gaucho and the Metropolitan Grill.
These wines are certainly not cheap, but winemaker Chris Upchurch is one of the best in Washington and literally every wine that he makes is outstanding. It doesn't hurt that he has fantastic Red Mountain fruit to work with and his Red Mountain fruit really helped him create some outstanding 2011 reds, despite working with a less than spectacular vintage. Upchurch even makes a great Rose!
Here are some of the outstanding wines that I recently tried at DeLille Cellars.
‪#‎delillecellars‬

2013 Doyenne Rose- Rhone style Rose rose. Pear and strawberry on the nose with some smoke. Nice balance on the palate with strawberry, gooseberry, and guava. Excellent, drink now. -91

2011 Doyenne Aix- This is a Cab Syrah blend. Great nose considering the vintage. Cedar, chocolate and black cherry on the nose. Palate has good depth. Blackberry, black cherry, anise and cedar. A bit hot and needs 1-2 years to integrate. -90

2011 Grand Ciel Syrah- Smoked meats and cassis on the nose. Lighter bodied than expected but smooth. Blackberry and red cherry flavors. Needs 1-2 years of cellaring. -91

2011 DeLille Cellars D2- Nice and perfumed nose considering the vintage. Vegetal nose with spice. Palate is smooth and tastes very Bordelaise. Red cherry, guava, and boysenberry flavors. Needs 1-2 years of cellaring. -91

2011 DeLille Cellars Four Flags Cabernet- This is sourced from some of the best vineyards in the state. Very rich nose considering the vintage. Provencale herbs anise, spice box, and red bell pepper. Palate is shut down but has potential and needs a lot of time, 3 plus years of cellaring. Blackberry, blueberry, coffee and light tannins. -92

Top Picks Under 20 Bucks

Over the past few months I have been compiling a list of recommended wines that I have tried at wineries and restaurants. This list includes my top picks for wines under 20 bucks. Many of these wines can be found at local supermarkets, such as Safeway, QFC and also Costco (one of the best places to buy wine). These wines all have one thing in common; they rock. Here are my recommended red and white wines under 20 bucks.

2010 Columbia Crest H3 Pinot Gris- Nice white raisin and cantaloupe on the nose. Palate is smooth and balanced. Cantaloupe, lychee, starfruit, and nutmeg. Refreshing and drink now. -91

2013 Julia's Dazzle Rose- Made from Pinot Grigio grapes that are grown in The Benches, Longshadows famed vineyard. Roses and grapefruit on the nose. Palate is crisp and delicious. Minerals, strawberry, guava and a ton of character. Maybe even vanilla cream. I'd say this is the most delicious and best made Washington rose I've ever had. Drink now. -93

2012 Dunham Lewis Vineyard Riesling- Pushing the 20 dollar price point. Pear and lemon on the nose. Lime and slate great acidity. Nice richness and fantastic value. Drink now.- 92

2012 Poets Leap Riesling- Pushing 20 bucks here. Fresh flowers, white peach and pear on the nose. Minerals on this off dry effort. Not the best Poets Leap I've had but better than the 2013. Really hard to find a better WA Riesling. Pear, white peach, cantaloupe, ripe pear and red delicious apple flavors. Balance and winemaking is there. Nice effervescence. -93

2012 Chateau St Michelle 'Mimi' Chardonnay- This is from Horse Heaven Hills. Tropical fruits on the nose. Palate has butter, golden delicious apple and minerals. Rounded out and smooth. Very solid, drink now.- 90

2013 Chateau St Michelle ‘Cold Creek’ Riesling- Excellent aromatics, getting lime and lemon. This is serious stuff for the price. Off dry with a little bit of sweetness. Pear and lemon with great minerality on the palate. Drink now.-92

2011 Chateau St. Michelle ‘Cold Creek’ Chardonnay- Definitely pushing the 20 dollar price point. Pear and apple with light oak on the nose. Nice oak integration on the palate with green apple, butter and pear. Drink now. -91

2012 L'Ecole Number 41 Chardonnay- This one is probably more than 20 bucks, but barely over that price. Pale color with oak, butter and tropical fruit on the nose. Palate is vibrant with oak, cream, cantaloupe, pear and butter. Rock solid. -92

2012 Alexandria Nicole Chardonnay- Pushing the 20 dollar price point. Light spice on the nose with rich pear and golden delicious. Palate is viscous and rich. Pear, golden delicious and cantaloupes with vanilla and oak. Solid effort, drink now. -91

2013 Alexandria Nicole ‘Crawford Vineyard’ Viognier- Perfumed nose of orange blossoms, white peach, and honeysuckle. Almost a gardenia on the nose. Palate has good structure and light saccharin flavors with ripe pear and red delicious. Drink now. -90

2012 Chandler Reach Viognier- nice nose of honeysuckle, pear and golden delicious. Vibrant acidity with ripe pear, red delicious, and white peach. Impressive. Drink now. -91

2012 Cougar Crest Viognier- Orange blossom and grapefruit on the nose. Palate has great acidity and minerality. Meyer lemon and green melon flavors. Refreshing. Drink now. -91

2012 Ferrari-Carano Fume Blanc- Lemongrass and grapefruit on the nose. Palate is bright with minerals and grapefruit, slate, pear in this refreshing quaff. Drink now. -90

2012 Whitehall Lane Sauvignon Blanc- somewhat muted nose with light orange and grapefruit. Palate is bright with good minerality along pear, green papaya and cantaloupe. Drink now. -89

2012 Robert Mondavi Winery Fume Blanc- Pale color with oak, grapefruit and melon notes. Palate has good acidity with pear, gooseberry and grapefruit flavors. Very solid, drink now. -89

2013 Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc- Classic New Zealand Sav Blanc. Lemongrass and grapefruit on the nose. Tangy palate with gooseberry, white peach, pear and lemon rind. Delicious. Drink now. -91

2012 Chateau St. Michelle H3 Cabernet- blackberry and oak ov nose. Palette is rich and has blackberry and black cherry. With figs. -90

2011 Chateau St. Michelle H3 Cabernet- complex nose with smoke, blackberry, cassis and oak. Palate is viscous and soft. Blackberry, anise, black cherry, black olive and chocolate on the palate. Very nice. -91

2011 Columbia Crest H3 Les Cheveaux- Columbia Crest uses fruit in this blend that is slightly below their Reserve tier. For many wineries, this wine would be their reserve blend. 75% Syrah and 25% Merlot. Cloves, cigar box and dark fruits on the nose. Good depth on the open palate with red cherry, blackberry, vanilla and black olive along fine grained tannins. Well-structured, this could cellar well for a couple of years, but why wait? -90 points

2010 Chateau St Michelle Indian Wells 'Red Blend' - This is a blend of 60% Merlot, 28% Syrah, 6% Cab, 3% Grenache, 2% Malbec and 1% a combination of Cinsault and Mouvedre. Dark color with red cherry and dates in the nose. A bit of a fruit bomb. Palate has a ton of character and flavors of red cherry, guava, pomegranate and chocolate. This is a must buy considering the price, drink now. -90

2009 Chateau St Michelle ‘Canoe Ridge’ Merlot- Red cherry and anise on the nose with oak. Palate is rich and soft. Plum, red cherry and boysenberry flavors. Impressive. -91

2010 Chateau St. Michelle Cold Creek Merlot- Rich color with spice, prune and oak. Palate also has a nice spice component with the red cherry and pomegranate. Drink now. -91

2010 Gordon Estates Syrah- Hard to find a more complex Syrah for around 20 bucks. This is a crack and pour. Brooding, dark color, with black pepper and oak on the nose, leading to beef jerky, blackberry and plum flavors. Blended with 7% Cab which contributes to the rich fruit flavors and adds structure. Excellent value, pick up a few while you can. - 92 points

2012 Wines of Substance Syrah- Muted nose with black cherry and smoked meats. Palate is smooth and exhibits classic WA Syrah flavors of red cherry, pomegranate, smoked meats and sage. Would like a bit more richness but a good price for the bottle. Very solid. Drink now. -89

2011 Pendulum- This is a Washington red blend that offers good value. Cab with 25 percent Merlot. Nose somewhat muted with some light fruit flavors. Palate has strong acidity with blackberry and smoked meats. Also 4 percent Syrah with some Tempranillo. Very nice. -90

2010 Waterbrook Reserve Malbec- rich, dark color. Nose has smoked meats and blackberry. Palate is viscous and has violets, black pepper, blackberry and figs. Drink now. -90

2010 Airfield Estates Cabernet- A great Northwest winery that produces everything from Coinoise to Cab. The winery is known for small production and attention to detail for a fraction of Napa labels. Dark color with blackberry, cassis, dark cherry with oak. Similarly attractive palate with dark cherry, blackberry, tomato and olive collected with some medium tannins. Drinking great now. -90 points

2011 Columbia Crest Grand Estates Cabernet- One of the best Cabernets for the price. The grand estates Cab been a great value wine for years. You’d be hard pressed to find a better Cabernet in this price range. Plum and cherry with oak and buttered toast on the nose. Palate is well-balanced and has fig, vanilla and cherry preserves. Excellent effort. -87 points

2011 Chateau St. Michelle Indian Wells Cabernet- Complex nose with nutmeg, coffee, chocolate and stewed plum with the oak. Cassis, blackberry and anise with coffee on the palate. Great acidity suggests you could wait a few years before opening this one, but drinking nicely now. 10% Syrah was added in this cool vintage.- 90 points

2009 Chandler Reach Corella- Some translucence on the reddish brown color. Blend of 75% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Merlot. Perfumed nose of rose petals, smokey oak, and blackberry. Palate is vibrant with great balance. Ripe strawberry and raspberry. Very tasty. Drink now. -92

2008 Chandler Reach Ventoso- 90% Merlot with 10% Cabernet. Brownish red hue with cherry cough syrup nose. Palate is smooth with fig, red cherry and oak. Nice complexity and slightly vegetal. Drink now. -90

2011 Michael David Petit Petit- Pushing the 20 dollar price point here. California Petite Syrah and Petite Verdot. Blueberry and blackberry jam on the nose. Palate has blackberry and spice. Straightforward but serious richness with black fruit with black tea. Drink now. -89

2011 Terrazas de las Andes Reserva Malbec- plum, cranberry and baking spices on the nose. Palate has good viscosity with tons of fruit. Plum, dark cherry and raspberry with good balance. Drinking good now. -90

2010 Kepos di Ampelia- This one is slightly over the 20 dollar price point but if you can pick up a bottle, it is well-worth it. Made from Grenache, Mouvedre, Carignan, and Alicante Bouchet. Fragrant nose with rose petals, spiced plum and red cherry. Palate is delicious. Red cherry, guava, pomegranate and raspberry with minerals and lavender. Crack and pour, this is delicious juice. -92

2008 Marques de Caceres Rioja Reserva- Oak with blackberry and smoke on the nose. Palate is rich and needs 30 or more minutes of decanting to open up. Blackberry, black cherry and cola gives this an atypical flavor profile for this wine. Very tasty, with good viscosity. Drink now or cellar for 2 years. -91

Emory's On Silver Lake Wine Dinner Featuring Pomum Cellars

Last night I had the chance to sample some of the best area food and wine at Emory's on Silver Lake. Emory's boasts one of the best wine lists in the Everett area and they have been doing wine dinners for a few years with great success. Last night they showcased Pomum Cellars, a winery that specializes in growing Spanish varietals, such as Tempranillo and Graciano, utilizing Columbia Valley terroir.
Pomum Cellars was started by winemaker Javier Alonso, who is originally from the Ribera del Duero region of Spain. Javier spoke last night about his journey to the US from Spain and how well Spanish varietals grow in Washington state. Pomum has another line called Idilico, that produces a very novel Albarino. The best wine I tried last night was their Bordeaux blend, which was sourced from some of the most famous vineyards in Washington, including DuBrul Vineyard and Elerding Vineyard. While the wines excelled last night, the food was even better. Particularly the slow roasted shortribs were melt in your mouth delicious.
Here are some of the wines that I sampled from Pomum Cellars:
‪#‎pomumcellars‬

2011 Pomum Tempranillo- Pomum is the biggest producer of Tempranillo in WA. 10% Grenache is added. Red cherry and plum on the nose. Palate is fruity with plum, raspberry and blueberry. Nice balance. Drink now. -89

2012 Idilico Riesling- Melon and cut grass on the nose. Medium acidity with pear, red delicious and cantaloupe with minerals. Tastes like Pinot Gris. Simplistic but tasty. Dry with .4 residual. Drink now. -87

2013 Idilico Albariño- Biggest producer of Albarino in WA. 1000 cases. Grapes in stainless steel. Lemon peel and fresh flowers on the nose. Palate has nice acidity with pear, starfruit and cantaloupe. Bright and novel but a little light in flavor. Drink now. -88

2010 Pomum Syrah- Columbia Valley fruit, 150 cases of this limited production wine. Nose has smoke, cinnamon, and anise. Palate has blackberry, black cherry, smoke and pomegranate. Nice weight and slightly sweet. Drink now. -89

2009 Pomum Shya Red- 71.1% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10.5% Cabernet Franc, 9.5% Merlot, 4.7% Petit Verdot and 4.2% Malbec From Dubrul, Sheridan, Elerding and other great Washington vineyards. Yakima valley fruit. Prune, blackberry and blueberry on the nose. Palate has blackberry, blueberry and anise with chocolate and coffee nuances. Slightly alcoholic but rich. Drink now or cellar for 1-2 years. -90

2011 Idilico Graciano Reserva- Red currant, red cherry and pepper on the nose. Palate has red currant, white pepper and raspberry flavors. Forward but tasty. Drink now. -89

Favorites of Red Mountain

I had a chance to check out a two of my favorite Red Mountain wineries a few weeks back. Hedges is one of the oldest Red Mountain wineries. The Hedges family began making wine from Red Mountain fruit in 1987. Fast forward more than 25 years later, their spot on Red Moutain lies at the the state's most famous land for Washington wine. The winery is beautifully perched up on a hill, overlooking the Columbia valley. If you have a chance to check out the winery, it is worth the trip! Hedges is known for Cabernet and Merlot, especially their estate Red Blend (and sold at Costco) but they also grow some interesting Portugese indigenous varietals that they throw into their estate vintage Port. I have to say that their Port is nothing like I've ever tried in Washington state. It is an outstanding effort!
About a mile down the road from Hedges lies Fidelitas Winery. Fidelitas is a modern facility that was created by superstar winemaker, Charlie Hoppes, former head winemaker for Chateau St. Michelle. Hoppes began making wine at Red Moutain in 2000 and has produced fantastic reds and whites since that time. Currently making 7,000 cases of wine, Fidelitas is known for their red and white Bordeaux blends, as well as their rich Cabernets. Their value wine series, M100, is also very good for the price and sells to Costco and most Seattle area grocery stores.
Here are some of my favorites from Hedges and Fidelitas:
‪#‎hedges‬
‪#‎fidelitaswinery‬

2011 Hedges Red Mountain- 44% Cabernet, 33% Merlot, 16% Syrah, 4% Malbec and 3% Cab Franc. Herbal nose. Shut down on the palate with ripe red cherry and strawberry flavors with oak. Needs 1-2 years. -89

2009 Hedges Red Mountain- This is their signature red blend, from a better vintage than '11. Anise and blackberry on the nose. Blackberry and cassis with black cherry with dried herbs on the palate. Rounded out and smooth. Slightly better than the '11. Drink now. -90

2011 Descendants Liegios DuPont Syrah- -14% alcohol. Smoked meats and cassis on the nose. Shut down on the palate. Black cherry and blackberry. A bit straightforward. Drink now. -89

2010 Goedhart Family Syrah- All estate fruit. Smoked meats and blackberry on the nose with oak. Northern Rhone tasting, having strong terroir, with a citrus element with tar and smoked meats and blackberry. Very solid. Drink now. -91

2008 Malbec Limited Release- Anise and black cherry on the nose with oak. Chewy wine with blackberry, anise and good balance. Drink now. -90

2006 Red Mountain Fortified- This is their port, using 100 percent Portuguese varietals. Aged for 30 months. Ultra dark color. Nice heavy nose of oak, blueberry and blackberry. Palate has good balance and acid structure. Plum, anise and blackberry. Impressive. Drink now, -92

2012 Fidelitas Optu- 57% Sav Blanc and 43% Semillon. Honeysuckle and cut grass on the nose with a hint of orange marmalade. Palate has a nice viscosity. Pear, red delicious apple and minerals on the palate. Very smooth. -92

2010 Fidelitas Merlot Champoux Vineyard- Prune and red cherry on the nose with rose petals. Palate has black cherry, prune and blackberry. Nice richness. Great acid structure. Drink now or cellar for 2 plus. -92

2011 Fidelitas Columbia Valley Malbec- Waluke slope fruit, 100 percent Malbec. Spice nose with oak and red cherry. Palate has anise, red cherry and white pepper. Novel wine. -90

2010 Fidelitas Red Mountain Cabernet- Slightly vegetal on the nose with red bell pepper, red cherry and light spice with oak. Palate has great balance with the fruit. Blackberry, red cherry-92

2011 Optu Red- Red mountain fruit, with 50% Merlot, 34% Cab and 16% Cab Franc. Nose is a bit shut down. White pepper with herbaceous nodes. Rich fruit considering the vintage. Fruit hasn't full integrated. Red cherry, blackberry and smoke. Needs 3+ years. -92

Alexandria Nicole, Hogue and Columbia Crest Wineries

I recently had the opportunity to visit these wineries in Columbia Valley. Alexandria Nicole is a small production, boutique winery. Recently they opened a tasting room in Woodinville. Their main tasting room is located in Prosser, right down the street from Hogue. A relatively new winery that produces 10,000 cases on wine, Alexandria Nicole is known for their fantastic Viognier that is one of the best in the state. Recently they have been experimenting with relatively unknown varietals to Washington such as Carmenere and Albarino – and the results have been novel and exciting. In fact they have over 23 varietals planted at their esteemed Destiny Ridge vineyard in Horse Heaven Hills.

Hogue Cellars has gained national acclaim for their value wines. Most of their wines are readily available in grocery stores and have received very high reviews from Wine Spectator in particular, considering their price. Their Reserve label and their Terroir label (winery only) involves the winery’s choicest fruit. Terroir wines have sourced from the most famous in the state, including the Champoux Vineyard in Red Mountain. Over the years the Hogue Reserve Merlot is consistently one of the best made Washington Merlots. With its bold cherry flavors, it is definitely worth a try.

About a 30 minute scenic drive from Hogue Cellars lies Columbia Crest Winery, one of the biggest wineries in the Northwest. But they back up their large production with exceptional results. Columbia Crest boasts the only wine made in the Pacific Northwest to achieve the number one wine in the world (their 2005 Reserve Cabernet was rated 95 points) on the top 100 list by Wine Spectator magazine. While Columbia Crest makes incredible value wines in their Two Vines and Grand Estates label (including the some of the best quality Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet for the price), their Reserve label wines are truly outstanding and are also readily available. One of their best wines consistently is the Walter Clore, a Cabernet blend that is easy to find at Costco. Many Costcos also sell their Reserve Cabernet, another Columbia Crest signature wine.
Here are some of the great wines that I tried at Alexandria Nicole, Hogue and Columbia Crest.
‪#‎alexandrianicole‬
‪#‎hoguecellars‬
‪#‎columbiacrest‬

Alexandria Nicole

2012 Chardonnay- Light spice on the nose with rich pear and golden delicious. Palate is viscous and rich. Pear, golden delicious and cantaloupes with vanilla and oak. Solid effort, drink now. -91

2012 Riesling- .6 residual sugar. Very dry style. Somewhat subdued nose with pear and honeysuckle. Palate has vibrant minerality. Lemon lime, grapefruit and orange peel, drink now. -89

2013 Albariño- 185 cases on this small production wine. White peach on the nose. Maybe unripe green papaya. Palate has pear
and red delicious apple. Light acidity and would like more minerality considering the varietal. That said, extremely novel. Drink now. -88

2012 Shepherds Mark -65% Rousanne 20% Marsanne 15% Viognier in this Rhone blend. Perfumed nose. Honeysuckle, ripe golden delicious and white peach. Palate has nice richness and viscosity. Minerals too. Golden delicious, pear and Welches white grape juice. Very solid. Drink now -91

2013 Crawford Vineyard Viognier- Perfumed nose of orange blossoms, white peach, and honeysuckle. Almost a gardenia on the nose. Palate has good structure and light saccharin flavors with ripe pear and red delicious. Drink now. -90

2013 Rose- Cab Franc and Tempranillo. Subdued nose with rose petals and light mushroom. Too sweet on the palate. Red cherry and strawberry flavors. Simplistic. -84

2012 Jet Black Syrah- white pepper and smoked meats on the nose. Slightly herbal. Palate has good acidity. Anise and smoked meats with tar. Also dried herbs. Drink now. -89

2011 Members Only- This is a GSM. 57% Grenache 30% syrah and 13% Mouvedre. 237 cases, so limited production. Black pepper, black olive and smoked meats on the nose. Nice balance on the palate with red cherry, red currant and blackberry. Maybe huckleberry? Nice complexity. Drink now. -91

2011 Carmenere- Not 100 percent of the varietal with 10 percent cab and 3 percent Malbec. Green olive and black pepper on the nose. Nice herbaceousness on the nose. Palate has nice balance but is a little thin. Red cherry and raspberry flavors. Novel wine. Drink now.-88

2011 Cabernet Franc- Brownish purple color with 3 cab and 2 petite Verdot. 191 cases produced. Feminine and perfumed nose with red cherry and rose petals. Rich nose considering the vintage. Palate is light bosiws and is somewhat herbaceous with vegetal tones and red cherry and guava. Strong acid structure and might need some time for the fruit to integrate. Light tannins and A bit thin. Drink now or cellar for 1-2 years.-88

2010 Destiny- Bordeaux blend wine with black olive and black cherry on the nose. Red cherry and raspberry on the palate. Acidic and a long ager. Slightly vegetal. Would like a little more richness. Drink now. Drink now or cellar for 1-2 years. -89

2011 Block 17 Syrah- 14% Grenache with the rest Syrah. Smoke and black tea on the nose. Palate has serious richness. Boysenberry jam and figs. Tasty. Drink now.-90

Hogue Cellars

2013 Terroir Viognier- Honeysuckle and orange peel on the nose. Nice balance with good structure. Pear, golden delicious and starfruit with vanilla and minerals on the palate. Drink now. -88

2012 Terroir Barbara Rosato- Strawberry, guava and mushroom on the nose. Red cherry, pomegranate and guava with strawberry on the palate. A bit simplistic. Some earthiness as well. A step behind other vintages. Drink now.-88

2011 Reserve Chardonnay- Aged 17 months in oak. Oak and butter on the nose with golden delicious. Palate has some mushroom with oak, cream and golden delicious apple. Drink now. -89

2009 BIII- Merlot, Cabrnet and Malbec. Blackberry and black cherry with spice on the nose. Palate has nice richness with spice and black cherry, raspberry and anise. Straightforward style. Delicious, drink now. -90

2010 Reserve Merlot- Red cherry and anise on the nose. Palate is chewy. Red currant adds some spice with red cherry and raspberry. Solid. Drink now.-89

2010 Terroir Syrah- Slightly subdued nose with white pepper and smoked meats. Palate has black cherry, black olive, black pepper and blackberry. Slightly shut down. Might cellar for a year and see if it opens up.- 88

2011 Reserve Cabernet- Oak and baking spices on the nose. Maybe blackberry pie? Palate 76% Cab, 16% Merlot, 4% Malbec and 4% Petite Verdot in this blend. Open and plush blend. Some herbaceousness. Very nice with red bell pepper, anise, red cherry and ripe tomato. Light tannins. Drink now or cellar for one year. -90

Columbia Crest Winery

2011 Reserve Malbec- Blueberry and mulling spices on the nose. Palate has plum, blueberries, blackberry and smoke. Excellent. Drink now. -92

2010 Reserve Walter Clore- 53% Merlot, 36% Cab and 11% Cab Franc. Blackberry oak and smoke on the nose. Nice balance on the palate. Red currant, red cherry and red bell pepper in this consistently impressive blend. Drink now or cellar for one year. -91

2009 Reserve Cabernet- Black cherry and smoke on the nose. Palate is rich with plum, creme de cassis and blackberry. Light tannins. Delicious. Drink now. -93

2010 Reserve Cabernet- Slightly more vegetal nose than the 2009. Red bell pepper, herbs and red cherry on the palate. Somewhat shut down on the palate. Blackberry, anise and heavy tannins. Fruit hasn't quite integrated. Cellar for 1-2 years. -91

2010 Reserve Stonetree Vineyard Cabernet- 100% Cabernet. Pomegranate, guava and red cherry on the nose. Palate has black cherry, anise and blackberry. Nice richness, this wine is rock solid. Drink now.-92

2012 Reserve Late Harvest Viognier- orange blossom, honeysuckle and nutmeg on the nose. Palate has light richness. Maybe a Spatlase style. Honeydew and starfruit flavors. Acid structure lacking but tasty. Drink now.-88

Col Solare

When two world famous wineries merge, great things can happen. Col Solare was created when the Antinori family (one of the most famous families of Tuscany) and Chateau St. Michelle came together to form a winery. Starting with their first vintage in 1995, Col Solare’s mission has been to amalgamate these two distinct viticultural and winemaking backgrounds to create a fantastic Cabernet Sauvignon-based red wine from choice Red Mountain fruit. The result is one of the finest and most consistent Washington Red blend.
Col Solare recently set up a tasting room in Chateau St. Michelle Winery. They are appointment only, but offer a really fantastic retrospective of their wines. Their tasting room in eastern Washington offers gorgeous panoramas of Red Mountain. It is a wold class facility where you can try one of Washington's great wines.
Col Solare makes only two wines. Their signature blend, Col Solare, is typically made from around 70 percent Cabernet, depending on the vintage. Their second wine is called Shining Hill and is better than many winery's first wines.
I was able to taste multiple vintages of Col Solare at the winery. Both the 2008 and 2009 earned high marks, although I see them as a slight step behind the outrageously good 2007. Here are the wines that I tried a Col Solare, one of Washington's best.
‪#‎colsolare‬

2008 Col Solare- Rich nose with anise, Christmas spice and provencale herbs. Palate is medium bodied and balanced. Blackberry, red currant, black olive and red cherry with fine grained tannins. Drinking great now but could also be cellared for a year. -92

2009 Col Solare- Rich nose and incredibly perfumed. Ripe raspberries, crème de cassis and oak. Palate has cassis, blackberry and smoke. Tannic and slightly shut down. This will be a monster in 2 years, so cellar for at least 2. -94

2009 Component Collection Cabernet- This is a new project for Col Solare, a 97% Cabernet wine with 3% Cab Franc. Slightly alcoholic with boysenberry preserves. Palate is rich wit some light tannins. Blackberry, anise and cassis. Needs 2 years of cellaring. -92

2010 Shining Hill-This is Col Solare's second wine. Intense smoke with blackberry and cassis on the nose. Palate is medium bodied but balanced. The winemaking is there. Cran-cherry, pomegranate and red cherry with light tannins. Drink now. -90

Chandler Reach Winery

If you are ever in Columbia Valley, visiting Chandler Reach Winery is a must. Perched on top of a hill, overlooking the valley, the winery is in a fantastic location. There is something really novel about visiting a winery in a remote location. Looking out at Chandler Reach, you feel like you are a million miles from the city.
The winery now has a tasting location in Woodinville, which makes tasting their wines more convenient for those who live in Western Washington.
Chandler Reach is a small, boutique winery that makes some great wines for the price. Many of their wines are in the 10-20 dollar range and their wines receive consistently 90 plus ratings from Wine Spectator. Many of their current released wines are from the 2008 and 2009 vintages (which were fantastic years for Washington red wines), which is novel considering most Washington wineries do not hold their wines back. Chandler Reach grows only red varietals (Cabernet, Cab Franc, Merlot, Sangiovese and Syrah) but they have recently begun making a fantastic quality Viognier.
Here are some of the wines that I tried at Chandler Reach Winery.
‪#‎chandlerreach‬

2012 Viognier- nice nose of honeysuckle, pear and golden delicious. Vibrant acidity with ripe pear, red delicious, and white peach. Impressive. Drink now. -91

2009 Corella- Some translucence on the reddish brown color. Blend of 75% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Merlot. Perfumed nose of rose petals, smokey oak, and blackberry. Palate is vibrant with great balance. Ripe strawberry and raspberry. Very tasty. Drink now. -92

2008 Ventoso- 90% Merlot with 10% Cabernet. Brownish red hue with cherry cough syrup nose. Palate is smooth with fig, red cherry and oak. Nice complexity and slightly vegetal. Drink now. -90

2009 Brevetatta- Brownish red color. Syrah, Sangiovese and Merlot blend. Raspberry and smoke on the nose. Tasting red raspberry, red cherry and dried herbs. On the lighter side but well-made. -89

2008 Syrah- Red cherry and raspberry oak and smoke on the nose. Very perfumed. Impressive nose considering it's age. Palate is smooth and plush. Raspberry, red cherry and smoke. Balanced and ripe.on the lighter side but novel. Drink now. -90

2008 Parris Reserve Cabernet Franc- Vegetal nose with green bell pepper, red cherry and white pepper. Balance is fantastic. Red cherry, anise and red bell pepper on the slightly herbaceous palate. This is consistently one of their best wines. Drink now. -92

2007 Parris Reserve Sangiovese- Brownish red hue. Nose is slightly astringent with raspberry and oak. Palate is on the acrid side with red raspberry, red cherry and olive flavors. -89

Long Shadows

Last weekend I had the opportunity to visit Long Shadows winery in Woodinville. The story behind Long Shadows is pretty epic. Roughly 10 years ago, one of the more famous people in Washington wine, the former Chateau St. Michelle CEO, Alan Schoup, came up with a brilliant idea. Schoup decided to take the best winemakers in the world and have them make wines by using Columbia Valley grapes. Shoup bought some choice vineyard land in Columbia Valley and assembled an incredible dream team of winemakers.
Shoup chose Armin Diehl of Schlossgut Diel from the Mosel region of Germany to make a Riesling. Diel's Riselings are some of the best in the world. The Riesling he makes for Long Shadows is called Poet's Leap.
He also chose the Folonari family from Tuscany to make a Super Tuscan (Sangiovese, Cab, Merlot and Syrah) called Saggi. The Folonaris have been making wine in Tuscany since the 1700s!
Augustin Huneeus and Philipe Melka was chosen to make a Bordeaux blend, Pirouette. They are both known for being a winemakers (and Huneeus is the owner) at the esteemed Quintessa Winery in Napa.
Schoup chose probably the most famous winemaker of Syrah in the world. John Duvall is known for making Penfolds Grange, a wine that has achieved 100 points by Robert Parker. Duvall's wine is called Sequel and it is a rich and inky Syrah and arguably the best Washington Syrah for the price.
Michel Rolland, possibly the world's most famous wine consultant, was chosen to make a Merlot blend called Pedestal. This wine is one of the best Merlots made in Washington and can age for 10 or more years.
Randy Dunn, owner of Dunn Vineyards and formerly a winemaker at Caymus Winery, creates the Cabernet called Feather. Feather is a softer style of Cabernet that many years can be drunk rather young.
The director of winemaking is Giles Nicault, who has a great deal of experience in making Washington wines. Nicault was formerly a winemaker at Hogue Cellars and Woodward Canyon Winery, before moving to Long Shadows. Nicault crafts the Chester-Kidder red blend, which is primarily a Cabernet and Syrah blend.
Long Shadows Winery is so good that it deserves a lengthy introduction. Here are the fantastic and innovative wines that I tried:
‪#‎longshadows‬

2013 Poet's Leap- Herbal nose with orange blossom. Palate is dry with orange, lemon-lime and Japanese pear. Refreshing but slightly behind other vintages. Drink now. -90

2011 Saggi- Sangiovese blend with perfumed roses and red cherry on the nose with a little oak. Palate is plush and open. 45% Sangiovese and 43% Cabernet with the rest Syrah. Ripe raspberry, chocolate, coffee and white pepper. Tannins have already dissipated. Drink now. -92

2010 Sequel- Inky color with smoked meats, tar and bacon fat on the nose. Palate is rich with blueberry, blackberry and anise with black pepper. Finishes long. Drink now or hold for 1-2 years. -93

2010 Chester Kidder- Blackberry and red cherry with oak on the nose. Palate has some tannins. I get black cherry, anise, black olive and chocolate. Drinking good now but could be cellared for 1-2 years. -91

2011 Pirouette- 53% Cabernet and 25% Merit with the rest other Bordeaux varietals. Somewhat closed on the nose with blackberry and cigar box. Palate is surprisingly open with blackberry, blueberry, creme de cassis and cedar. Nice balance and lightly tannic. Drink now or cellar for 1-2 years. -92

2011 Pedestal- Ripe raspberry, red cherry, oak and vanilla on the nose. Palate is plush but the fruit hasn't fully integrated. Red cherry, raspberry and oak. Needs 2+ years of cellaring. -92

2011 Feather- Cassis and blackberry with smoke on the nose. Palate is rich and remarkably smooth. Blackberry, black cherry, black olive, red bell pepper and vanilla with fine grained tannins. Delicious and complex. Drink now or cellar for 1-2 years. Great effort for the vintage. -93

World Class Chardonnay

Chardonnay the king of white wines, for it makes consistently excellent, rich and complex whites. In fact, Chardonnay is grown in more regions of the world than any other varietal. It has been speculated that Chardonnay first came from the Middle East and then was brought to Burgundy in eastern France. Chardonnay grows well in a variety of locations throughout the world. In Burgundy, it is used for the exquisite whites, such as Montrachet, Meursault and Pouilly-Fuissè, and Chablis; in Champagne it turns into Blanc de Blancs. And did you know that Chardonnay is in some of the most famous Champagnes of the world, such as Veuve Clicquot, Moet and Dom Perignon? New Zealand and Australia also make fantastic Chardonnay.
No other white varietal benefits as much from oak aging or barrel fermentation. Some Chardonnays do not have any oak barrel ageing, such as wines from Chablis in France, while others, such as the Mer Soileil Chardonnay, are aged 12-14 (or more) months in French oak. Some of the best California Chardonnays become more rich and complex with aging. Washington Chardonnays typically see some oak, but not usually as much as their California counterparts. For instance, the excellent 2012 L'Ecole No. 41 Chardonnay is aged for 6 months in oak. Washington Chardonnays are typically made to drink right away, while some California Chardonnays can cellar 10+ years.
Because of Chardonnay's popularity, there is a broad spectrum in quality for the varietal. Here are some of my favorite Chardonnays from Washington and California.
‪#‎chateaustmichelle‬, ‪#‎woodwardcanyon‬, ‪#‎saviah‬, ‪#‎ramey‬, ‪#‎lecole‬, ‪#‎maryhill‬, ‪#‎chateaustjean‬, ‪#‎sbragia‬, ‪#‎ferraricarano‬

2012 Chateau St Michelle 'Mimi' Chardonnay- This wine is from Horse Heaven Hills and has tropical fruits on the nose. Palate has butter, golden delicious apple and minerals. Rounded out and smooth. Very solid. -90

2011 Chateau St. Michelle 'Cold Creek' Chardonnay- Pear and apple on the nose. Nice oak integration on the palate with green apple and pear with light butter characteristics. -91

2012 Woodward Canyon Chardonnay. Voted best in show for 40 bucks and above at the San Fran Wine Competition. Very light oak. Wonderful smoothness on the palate with golden delicious, pear and melon flavors. Excellent. Drink now. -92

2009 Saviah Cellars 'Stillwater Creek Vineyard' Chardonnay- Pale color with some green hues. Nose has green apple and cantaloupe with light nutmeg. Palate has good depth with vanilla cream, green apple, white peach and minerals. Very tasty. Cellared for a few years, and only 165 cases produced. Drink now. -92

2012 L'Ecole No. 41 Chardonnay- Pale color with oak, butter and tropical fruit on the nose. Palate is vibrant with oak, cream, cantaloupe, pear and butter. Rock solid. Drink now. -92

2011 Maryhill Founders Reserve Chardonnay- Oak and cream on the nose. Needs some time to open up. Light bodied. Palate has pear, green apple and cream. Nice refreshing quality. Drink now. -89

2008 Chateau St. Jean Reserve Chardonnay - Aged 16-17 months in oak, this wine has a rich gold color with heavy oak on the nose. Whipping cream and creme brûlée on the palate. Thick and viscous with major oak. Excellent. Drink now. -93

2011 Mer Soleil Reserve Chardonnay- Honey, butter and golden delicious apple on the nose. Almost botrytis on the palate with serious depth and richness. Opulent fruit, this reaches a viscosity that few Chards can approach. Palate has golden raisin, butterscotch, golden delicious apple and white peach. This is serious juice. Drink now. -94

2009 Sbragia 'Home Ranch' Chardonnay- This wine underwent full malolactic fermentation and was aged in oak for 10 months. Rich golden hue with oak, orange blossom and honeydew melon on the nose. Palate has creme brûlée, golden delicious apple and ripe pear. Serious viscosity, this is just outstanding. Drink now. -94

2011 Ramey 'Russian River Valley' Chardonnay- Underwent full malolactic fermentation and aged in oak for 12 months. Oak and orange blossom with nutmeg on the nose. Palate is vibrant with pear, red apple and cracking minerality. Very Burgundian and crisp. Drink now.- 92

2012 Ferrari-Carano Chardonnay- Pale color with toasted oak and vanilla on the nose. Fermented with 30% new oak and 70% old oak. Also near full malolactic fermentation. Palate has vibrant minerality with pineapple, butter, honeydew melon, starfruit and pear. Drink now. -92

Quilceda Creek Tasting

I am one lucky guy and was able to experience an exemplary wine tasting last weekend from possibly Washington's most famous winery, Quilceda Creek. Quilceda Creek is a boutique winery that is located in Snohomish, Washington and was founded by Alex Golitzin. Golitzin is a nephew of Andre Tchelistcheff, who is considered to be one of the most famous winemakers in the history of California winemaking.
Golitzin has created the consistently highest scoring wines in the history of Washington wine. In fact the 2002, 2003, 2005, and 2007 vintages all scored 100-point ratings from Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate. Only 15 other wines in the United States have received a 100 point score from Parker, all made from California grapes, and only five wines worldwide had ever before earned consecutive 100-point scores. The passion is in the bottle, as no other Washington wine can consistently equal the viscosity, richness and terroir of Quilceda Creek Cabernet.
Here are the wines that I was able to try for the Quilceda Creek tasting, including vintages of their Cabernet, Merlot and Red Wine (red blend).
‪#‎quilcedacreek‬

2002 Cabernet- Rich nose with rose petals, red cherry and cassis. Palate is rich with serious concentration, considering its age. Creme de cassis, blackberry and anise. Delicious, drink now - 96

2003 Merlot- Brownish-purple color with plum and blueberry on the compelling nose. Very Cabernet-like palate with rich strawberry, blueberry, plum and spice cake. Drink now -96

2004 Cabernet- Dark fruit on the nose with plum, blackberry and anise. Palate is viscous and silky with black cherry, blackberry, cassis, coffee and spice cake. Drink now or cellar for 2 more years -96

2005 Cabernet Galitzen Vineyard- Rich dark hue with plum, red cherry and oak on the nose. Palate has incredible smoothness with blueberry, boysenberry, chocolate, coffee and Christmas spice. Delicious. Drink now or cellar for 1 year. -97

2006 Cabernet- Cassis, oak and ripe figs on the nose. Palate has a vegetal flavor, unique to the other vintages. Red bell pepper, dark cherry, anise, blackberry and coffee. Seamless and has incredible terroir. I might mistake this for Napa. Drink now or cellar for 1 year. -98

2006 Red Wine- Lighter hue with red currant and anise with an herbaceous bent. Palate has some vegetal flavors with red bell pepper, red cherry and anise with oak. Drink now. -93

2007 Cabernet- Dark hue and has blackberry, black cherry and oak on the nose. Palate is smooth but intense and has anise, cassis, provencale herbs and mocha flavors with prominent tannins. Blockbuster wine. Drink now or cellar for 2+ years -98

2007 Red Wine- Plum and blackberry on the nose. Palate is rich and has cassis, blackberry and black cherry with black tea. Drink now. -93

2008 Cabernet- Vibrant nose with black cherry, spice cake and anise with oak. Palate has anise, cedar, blackberry jam and tar. Needs time, cellar for 2 more years. -97

2008 Red Wine- Lighter hue with red currant and vegetal nodes on the nose. Palate has red bell pepper, red cherry and dried herbs with spice. Drink now. -93

2009 Red Wine- Plum and blackberry on the nose. Palate is rich and has cassis, blackberry and black cherry. Really serious. Drink now. -94

Bordeaux Love

Over the years I have fallen in love with the wines of Bordeaux. I don't think any other wines of the world match the complexity that a great Bordeaux can offer.
Bordeaux is one of the most famous wine producing regions of the world, located in Northwest France, a few hours from Paris. Bordeaux wine first received acclaim in the United States from former US president, Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson was infatuated with Bordeaux and he built up a formidable collection of Bordeaux wines (with some help from US taxpayer dollars).
Bordeaux is typically divided into two major sections; wines produced on right side the Gironde river and those produced on the left side of the Gironde river. Those on the right side tend to be more Merlot dominant. These wines are typically softer and are more approachable early. Wines produced on the left side of the Gironde are typically more Cabernet dominant and are more geared towards long-term cellaring. In fact, some of the best left bank Bordeauxs can be cellared more than 50 years!
Keep your eyes on the 2009 and 2010 vintages, which are some of the best Bordeaux vintages in history. The vintages are so good that if you pick a '09 or '10 Bordeaux up at the grocery store, it is virtually guaranteed to be good. But if you open one up, make sure to decant it for at least an hour, as these wines need some time to open up. Here is a small sampling of some of the best Bordeaux wines that I have sampled recently.
‪#‎chateaulacroixlartique‬, ‪#‎chateaulesgrandsmarcheaux‬, ‪#‎chateumargaux‬, ‪#‎chateaureignac‬, ‪#‎chateaugreysac‬, ‪#‎chateaumonbosquet‬, ‪#‎chateauquinault‬

2009 Chateau La Croix Lartique- Rich color with sour cherry, provencale herbs, figs and oak on the nose. After an hour the palate is enriched with blueberry, blackberry, violets and coffee. Smooth and viscous, this can be enjoyed now but can also cellar 5+ years. -92

2009 Chateau Les Grands Marcheaux- This wine improves after an hour of decanting. 84% Merlot with the rest Cab. Palate is smooth and viscous with prune, black cherry, anise and milk chocolate. Delicious. Drink now. -92

2005 Chateau Margaux Pavillion Rouge- This is the second wine of Chateau Margaux, first being produced in 1908. Red currant and provencale herbs on the nose, with vibrant acidity on the palate, as well as strong tannins. Also red currant, blackberry and black cherry flavors. Not ready to drink but delicious. Cellar for 3+ more years. -93

2005 Chateau Reignac- One of my favorite producers of Bordeaux, this wine needs roughly two hours to open up. 75% Merlot and the rest Cab. Deep and dark hue, the wine has boysenberry, coffee and oak on the nose. Palate is rich with creme de cassis, coffee and blackberry. Strong tannins, suggestive that this wine needs another 3+ years of cellaring. The combination of concentration, terroir and smoothness that makes this wine exceptional. -93

2003 Chateau Greysac- Taken from a hot vintage, his wine has roasted plums, oak and dried fruits on the nose. Palate has dark fruits and creme de cassis with blackberry. Delicious and could cellar another 3+ years. Hard to not drink now. -93

2000 Le Angelique de Monbosquet- This is the second wine of Chateau Monbosquet. Taken from an esteemed vintage this wine has dried herbs and prune on the nose. After an hour this thing comes together. Dark fruits like plums, cassis and blackberry. Somewhat astringent and has good minerality. A little thin. Drink now. -91

2000 Chateau Quinault- Sage with dried fruits on the nose with light oak. Palate is fat and viscous with fig, boysenberry, and nutmeg. Delicious and well-balanced. Drink now. -93

Great Rioja Under 15 Bucks

Costco is a place for great finds on international wines. They tend to stock great values from Rioja and these two wines are no exception. Rioja wines are lower in alcohol than wines from Washington and California and are more balanced. Both are really novel expressions of Rioja.
One of the more famous wineries in Rioja is Marques de Caceres. I was lucky enough to visit the winery when I was in Spain last year. Funny thing was that the winery was not set up to taste their wine. Instead they handed us over small bottles of their wine as a gift for visiting their winery. Pretty amazing stuff!
For more than four decades, this winery has been delivering great Riojas for a decent price. They produce a great Grand Reserva, but their Reserva is also great and commands a lower price tag. Their 2008 Reserva spends 20 months in oak and then has 18-24 more months in the bottle. Buy this one while you still can!
Another wine of great value is the 2009 Vina Eguia Reserva. This is a different vintage than the Caceres and critics have agreed that the 2009 vintage in Rioja is slightly better than 2008. Vina Eguia was established in the 1980s but rumor is that some of the vines at the winery date back to the 1920s. Neal Martin who writes for Robert Parker has really loved this winery recently.
Hope you can find these two great value wines from Spain!
‪#‎marquesdecaceres‬. ‪#‎vinaegia‬,

2008 Marques de Caceres Rioja Reserva- Oak with blackberry and smoke on the nose. Palate is rich and needs 30 minutes of decanting to open up. Blackberry, black cherry and cola gives this an atypical flavor profile for this wine. Very tasty, with good viscosity. Drink now or cellar for 2 years. -91

2009 Vina Eguia Rioja Reserva- Heavy oak on the nose with cranberry and mulling spices. Palate has sour cherry, cranberry, orange peel and spice cake, over light tannins. Drink now. -91

Chateau St. Michelle and Cougar Crest

One great part about living in Seattle means Woodinville is a short drive away. Last weekend I visited two historic Washington wineries, Chateau St. Michelle and Cougar Crest. Each have been a big part of putting Washington wine on the map.
Chateau St. Michelle is one of the most famous producers of Riesling in the world. In fact, they mention that they produce more Riesling than any other winery. One key to gaining their success was previous winemaker, Mike Januik (currently owns his own prestigious winery, Januik Winery), as the wines made by him achieved unprecedented success for a Washington winery. Januik has been known for making great reds, too, as he has been coined the 'Washington King of Merlot,' for the great Merlots that he has created over the years. Januik was replaced with Bob Bertheau, who has been an incredibly successful successor, as St. Michelle has scored a constant stream of 90 plus point wines.
Cougar Crest came into the wine industry considerably later than Chateau St. Michelle, planting their first vines in 1997. Cougar Crest is much smaller operation than St. Michelle but most of their wines score in the 90s. Cougar Crest relies on fruit from their estate in Walla Walla and have achieved 93 point scores in Wine Spectator for their Cabernet and Cabernet Franc. As a husband and wife wine making team, Deborah and David Hansen produce extremely high quality red wines (and probably the best Viognier in the state) for a reasonable price.
‪#‎chateaustmichelle‬, ‪#‎cougarcrest‬

Here are some of the great wines that I sampled from Chateau St. Michelle and Cougar Crest:

2008 Domaine St. Michelle Luxe- This is their high end sparkling wine. Brioche and golden delicious apple on the nose with light oak. Palate has rich and slightly sweet flavors with ripe pear and red apple with delicate bubbles. Very solid, 100% Chardonnay. Drinking well now but this thing could also cellar for a few years.-90

2012 Chateau St. Michelle Austral- Rhone style white blend with Rousanne, Marsanne and Viognier. Nice lime and grapefruit on the nose. Good viscosity and palate is slightly simplistic but has nice smoothness. Lemon, lime and honeydew melon. Drink now.-88

2009 Chateau St. Michelle Artist Series Meritage- Blend of Cold Creek and Canoe Ridge vineyard fruits. Has all 5 Bordeaux varietals. Ripe blackberry, black cherry, cassis and cinnamon with coffee. Tight, tannic and needs a lot of time, likely 3 more years of cellaring. -92

2010 Chateau St. Michelle Ethos Syrah- Rich, dark color with smoked meats, light oak and vanilla on the nose. flavors of boysenberry, black tea and black cherry. Some tannins, suggesting that this can cellar another year or two. -92

2009 Chateau St. Michelle Whidbey's Port- 90% Cabernet with some Portugese indigenous varietals. Nice viscosity and acidity with blackberry, cherry cough syrup and coffee. -88

2012 Cougar Crest Viognier- Orange blossom and grapefruit on the nose. Palate has great acidity and minerality with lemon and green melon flavors with light cream. Refreshing and a great value. Drink now. -91

2011 Cougar Crest Rose- Pale color with a chalky smell. Guava and strawberry on the palate. Somewhat astringent. Drink now. -85

2010 Cougar Crest Dedication Seven- 50% Merlot with 29% Syrah, 15% Cabernet and 6% Petit Verdot. Lighter color with oak and red fruits on the nose. Palate has some citrus with raspberry, red cherry and cranberry. Drink now.-89

2008 Cougar Crest Anniversary Cuvee- Spice cake with oak on the nose. Palate has red cherry, raspberry and blackberry with great balance and minerality. Very Bordelaise. Drink now -92

2007 Cougar Crest Golden's Legacy Syrah- Heavy smoke on the nose with oak. Palate has smoked meats and blackberry with great viscosity. Drink now. -91

Taste of Washington

This past Sunday I was able to taste of the best wines from Washington at the Taste of Washington (http://tastewashington.org/), the biggest Washington wine event of the year. Some of Washington's most esteemed wineries were represented at the Taste -- wineries like Dunham, Andrew Will and Woodward Canyon. Many of the wineries were pouring their best wines. The food was so excellent that I could easily create another blog just on the food items, ranging from crab cakes to raw oysters.
Here are a few of my favorite Washington red and white wines that I was able to sample at this great event:

2011 Andrew Will Sorrella- Rich cassis and vanilla oak on the nose. Palate is rich for the vintage and surprisingly ready to drink. Blackberry and cassis dominate the palate with goo depth. Decant for an hour or two before drinking. Delicious. -93

2011 Andrew Will Two Blondes- Rich and perfumed nose with black fruits and red bell pepper. Smooth and ready to drink but will also reward w a few years of cellaring. Rich for the vintage. -92

2010 Baer Winery Arctos- This is one of their Bordeaux blends. Blackberry and oak on the nose. 59 cab 29 cab franc and 12 Merlot. Really great acidity. Not ready but has tons of potential needing 2-3 years of cellaring. -92

2008 Boudreaux Cellars Cabernet- Anise and blackberry on the nose. Palate has fig and red cherry. Delicious now with some light tannins. Drinking well now but could also cellar for a few years. -92

2009 Brian Carter Cellars Tuttorosso Red Blend-68 Sangiovese. Earthy nose with cherry and oak. Palate has red cherry and raspberry with some mushroom. Delightful earthiness with light
tannins. Ready to drink now.- 91

2012 Buty Sémillon, Sauvignon, Muscadelle- 62 Semillon and 21 Sav Blanc, with the rest Muscadelle. Light oak nose. Palate is rich
and has butter, cantaloupe, pear and minerals. Nice finish. -92

2011 Doubleback Cabernet- 90 percent Cabernet. Oak and red fruits on the nose. Palate has moderate concentration and richness with both red and dark fruits with chocolate and coffee. Very Bordeaux like. Excellent. Will need to be decanted for more than two hours. -93

2013 Chateau St Michelle Cold Creek Riesling- Excellent aromatics, getting lime and lemon. This is serious stuff for the price. Off dry with a little bit of sweetness. Pear and lemon with great minerality on the palate. Drink now.-92

2011 Chateau St. Michelle Cold Creek Chardonnay- Pear and apple with light oak on the nose. Nice oak integration on the
palate with green apple, butter and pear. Drink now. -91

2010 Chateau St. Michelle Cold Creek Merlot- Rich color with spice, prune and oak. Palate also has a nice spice component with the red cherry and pomegranate. Drink now. -91

2012 Dunham Lewis Vineyard Riesling-pear and lemon on the nose. Lime and slate great acid. Nice richness and fantastic value. Drink now.- 92

2010 Dunham Cabernet-Rich nose and black fruits with some spice cake. Blackberry and strong minerality with light tannins on the palate. Nice finish. This one will have a long life but needs 2-3 more years to ripen and become more expressive. -92

2009 L'Ecole Number 41 Merlot (Walla Walla Valley)-Vanilla and oak on the nose with some raspberry and spice. Ripe cherries, plum, fig and raspberry on the palate. Very rich. Another year or two years of cellaring will help this open up even more. -93

2009 Northstar Winery Merlot (Walla Walla Valley)-Vanilla and oak on the nose. Ripe cherries plum fig and raspberry on the palate. Very rich. Needs 2 plus years of cellaring . -93

2010 Northstar Merlot (Columbia Valley). 78 percent Merlot. Rich and smooth w fig and cherry with dates. Can taste the Cabernet, giving the Merlot and extra backbone. Drink this excellent stuff now.- 92

2010 Northstar Premier Merlot- This 100 percent Merlot was sourced from Northstar's best vineyards (Cold Creek, Beverly and
Stone Tree). Chocolate cherry with oak on the nose. Rich cherry cough syrup with boysenberry flavors. Novel stuff. Cellar for 2-3 but also good right out of the bottle -93

2012 Patterson Cellars Late Harvest Rousanne - Has 14 percent Viognier and 10 percent Chenin Blanc blended with the Rousanne. Rich concentrated golden hue. Nice depth and has peach, tangerine and grapefruit with vibrant minerality. Drink now. -92

2012 Rotie Cellars Southern White- 100 percent Marsanne. Orange peel and lemon on the nose. Palate is slightly sour w fantastic minerality. Expressive and novel. Green melon and peach. Maybe lime too. Drink now. -92

2012 Woodward Canyon Chardonnay. I was told this was voted best in show for 40 bucks and above at the San Fran wine competition. Very light oak. Wonderful smoothness with golden delicious pear and cantaloupe. Excellent and drinking well now. -92

2011 Woodward Canyon Artists Series Cabernet- 83 Cabernet and the rest Merlot, Cab Franc, Petit Verdot with Syrah. I was told that this is the first year that they have ever used some Syrah for this blend. Fruity and perfumed nose. Palate has nice viscosity considering the vintage with blackberry and plum flavors. This one needs time, drink in 2-3 years. Well balanced. -93

Recent Wines from Spain

Recent Favorites from Spain

Spain is an incredibly diverse land for wine. You’ve got great whites from Rueda, heavy reds from Priorat and lighter and balanced wine from Rioja. I’m amazed at the value from Rioja available to us in the US. Particularly in the 10-15 dollar range, some of these wines are can’t miss. If you are looking for a lighter bodied red, Rioja is right up your alley. More tangy than pinot, Rioja typically is 90-100 percent Tempranillo, with some indigenous varietals such as Manzuelo sometimes blended in. Spain is currently suffering from a financial crisis, so many of their wines are priced below their actual value. Here are some of my recent favorite picks from Rioja below 20 bucks (many are below 15 bucks!):
‪#‎bodegaondarre‬, ‪#‎bodegaolarra‬, ‪#‎bodegacondedevaldemar‬

2006 Bodega Ondarre Reserva- Incredible value. Oak and red fruits on the nose. The palate has great depth with red currant, strawberry and red currant. Great balance with light tannins. Needs an hour of decanting. -90

2008 Bodega Ondarre Reserva- This is their newer release. Oak with cran-raspberry on the nose. Palate has bright acidity with orange peel, red cherry and cranberry flavors. Needs roughly an hour of decanting.- 91

2006 Bodega Olarra “Cerro Anon”- Unlike many wines from this vintage, this is wine drinks great out of the bottle and doesn’t require decanting. Oak, cranberry and flowers on the nose. The plate has plums, sour cherry, dried dark fruits and mushroom. Interesting interplay between red fruits and black fruits. Fantastic value. -93

2006 Bodega Olarra “Anares”- Deep and rich color, almost reminiscent of a Cab or Merlot color. The nose has cranberry, raspberry, flowers and mushroom. Heavy oak as well. The palate has raspberry, cranberry, orange peel and some mulling spices with vibrant acidity. Incredible bargain, decant for an hour before drinking. -92

2005 Bodega Conde de Valdemar Reserva- Red fruit on the nose like cranberry and cherry with some oak. Palate has red cherry, guava, cranberry and cinnamon. Slightly oaked with strong acid backbone. Very nice. -91

2006 Bodega Conde de Valdemar Reserva- Muted nose, needs more than an hour to open up. More earthy tones on the nose, like mushroom with the oak. Palate has light tannins with cranberry and red cherry. Lighter bodied than the ‘05 and reflective of a lesser vintage. -89

2008 Dinastia Vivanco Crianza- One of Wine Spectator’s top wines for 2012, this wine has a perfumed nose of flowers, strawberry and raspberry. The palate is light-bodied and smooth, lacking some depth. Red cherry and cranberry surround vibrant acidity. Great balance. -90

Wines of Spain

I was fortunate enough to travel to Spain last year. The trip was a really amazing voyage, as I covered much of the country in two weeks. The wines of Spain are incredibly diverse, ranging from the inky wines of the Priorat to the ligher style wines of Rioja. There are excellent white wines as well. Here are the wines that I tasted in Spain. I have also listed how you can find them (some area easier to track down than others).
‪#‎bodegaroda‬, ‪#‎placet‬, ‪#‎closmogador‬, ‪#‎zindhumbrect‬, ‪#‎marquesdegrinon‬, ‪#‎remelluti‬, ‪#‎masiacarreras‬, ‪#‎argylespirithouse‬, ‪#‎numanthia‬, ‪#‎marqueseriscal‬, ‪#‎cotodeimaz‬, ‪#‎bodegalan‬, ‪#‎vinatondonia‬, #bodegaroda

2007 Bodega Roda Reserva.- Less than impressive vintage. Nice, dark color. Nose has smoked meats and oak. Palate is medium concentrated. Surprised that its that open. Oak and red cherry on the palate w maybe nutmeg and vanilla. Finishes smooth. Very nice effort from a Wine Spectator 86 pt vintage. -90 points *EASY TO FIND, look in wine shops or online.

2009 Placet Rioja Blanco- Nice hue, Sav Blancish. The wine was bought at a wine shop in Barca and was highly recommended. Almonds and cantaloupe on the nose. The palate is smooth and viscous. I get oak, some honey and almonds. Maybe a melon component as well, and a touch of butter. Finishes smooth. Very nice juice. -92 points. *Hard to find, might be available in specialty wine shops or online.

2007 Clos Mogador- this Priorat wine is esteemed and expensive. So when I saw it on the wine list at Bar del Pla (Barca) for 58 euros a bottle, basically at cost, I pounced on it. The wine is mostly Grenache and some Carignan. I was impressed by the blackberry fruit leather flavors. On the nose is smoke and Cassis with some oak. The palate is think and viscous w creme de Cassis, blackberry, cranberry and really nice minerality. Nice interplay between smooth and sour. Tastes like a great Bordeaux. The wine can sit for many years. Great concentration and a wonderful opportunity to drink one of Spain’s finest. -93 points *Relatively easy to find, most wine shops should have this wine.

2008 Zind-Humbrect Wintzenheim Gewurtztraminer- Deep, rich golden yellow color. Also dried mangos and peaches. The nose has so much going on. Slate and mushroom as well as pineapple from the botrytis. Fat on the palate but not a ton of acid which indicates short-term drinking. Pineapple, golden delicious apple and cinnamon with vanilla on the mouth. A touch of oak and botrytis in there. Long finish. Liquid candy and completely delicious. Given 93 Wine Spectator. -93 points *Not easy to find, possibly can order online or may find at a specialty wine shop.

1999 Marques de Grinon Enartis- From a less than esteemed vintage given only 81 Wine Spectator. This was recommended at Casa Montaña by the sommelier. Red and brownish color. Also some black licorice. Nice skunky nose. Good terroir. Came into its own after 30 mins. Getting red cherry, raspberry, smoked meats and plenty of oak on the palate. Balance and acid are there. Finished smooth. -92 points *Not easy to find. I have never seen this wine outside of Spain. Also websearch indicates that this is exceedingly difficult to find.

2007 Remelluti Rioja Blanco- Apparently given 94 Robert Parker according to the restaurant, it was recommended by the sommelier/restaurant owner. Cool to drink an aged Rioja. There is a nutty flavor and reminded me of green melon as well. Light hue, and has a translucent quality. The nose has fresh cut flowers and a grassy element with some mushroom. The palate has great acidity and I think this could sit for some time. Drinking like a Sav Blanc w grassy elements on the palate along with grapefruit. Maybe some lemon, too. Nice finish. Very solid- 90 points *Hard to find, check online or a specaility wine shop.

1998 Masia Carreras- Purchased at a wine store on close out and then brought to the Steakhouse. From Costa Brava near Girona. The blend is Grenache, Carianne and Tempernillo with Cab Sav and Syrah. Also dates, prune, smoke and black licorice. This is serious wine. There is just so much going on. There is incredible balance here with chocolate and smoke on the nose. The palate tastes like a great Bordeaux. It has kirsch, coffee, blueberry and cassis. Smooth and silky, this thing is ready to drink. This is one the best wines I’ve had in Spain. Not a long finish but acid is still there. Very memorable. -95 points *Nearly impossible to find, might check online, but limited info on this wine online.

2006 Argyle Spirithouse Pinot Noir- Given 93 Wine Spectator and 94 Robert Parker, this is serious wine. Obviously not a wine of Spain but one of the wines that I brought from home. Enjoyed at the apartment in Alicante. Might have some bottle shock as the wine needs time to open up. Mushroom, cherry and raspberry on the nose. Given 30 mins the wine opens up with cherry pie, nutmeg, vanilla, oak, strawberry and raspberry. Amazing smoothness as well as blackberry and nutmeg. It is smooth and silky to drink, similar to most of the premier wines from Argyle. Balance and depth are here. Finishes w red cherry and vanilla. -94 points *Hard to find, given this is an older wine. Check specialty wine shops or check online at the winery.

2006 Marc Palacios Les Terrasses- This Priorat wine is deep and dark. It is essentially a CDR with Grenache and Carignan. The palate has casis, sour cherry and raspberry with vanilla. Maybe licorice. Some tannins in there and good acid. Very nice, but not a spectacular wine. -91 points. *Moderately difficult to find, check online or a speciality wine shop.

NV Arcabucero Alicante Blanco- Bought for 3 Euros at an Alicante market. nose is coppery and some urine. Maybe some lemongrass too. Palate is diluted with some light acid, minerals and melon. Blasé but drinkable -81 points *Not easy to find and not recommended.

2012 Finca Ariadna Verdejo- From the Rusda region comes this wine bought for 5.95 Euros at the Alicante market. Light color, very Sav Blancish. Grassy nodes and grapefruit on the nose. The palate delivers with minerals, rose petals, slate, grapefruit with the effervescence. Smells like sparkling apple cider and tasted like pear and cantaloupe. Very pleasant wine. -88 points *Moderately difficult to find, check online.

2001 Coto de Imaz Gran Reserva Rioja- purchased for 15 euros at a grocery store in Valencia. Great year and given 90 Steven Tanzer and 92 Wine Enthusiast. I get cherry and vanilla on the nose w some oak. Palate is smooth with good balance and acid. Mostly red cherry, strawberry, as lighter fruits predominate with some oak. Would like better concentration for the vintage. Finishes smooth. -90 points. * Moderately difficult to find, check online.

2009 Numanthia Numanthia- given 94 Parker and 93 Tanzer, we had the incredible opportunity to try it at a restaurant in Madrid for about 50 euros, basically at cost (Arzábal). The wine needs 30 mins to unfold. Dark, brooding color. I get violets, creme de cassis and blackberry on the nose. Maybe some Christmas spice as well. Smells like a bakery and tastes like pumpkin pie, as well as holiday spice. The palate is extremely concentrated and rich. There is a striking minerality that comes through reminiscent of some great Napa wines like the Mondavi reserve Cab. Creme de cassis and blackberry mostly on the palate and there is a delicious pie crust taste as well. I get nutmeg in there. Tannic, this wine can age for 10 years. Neck and neck with Robert Mondavi reserve Cab here. Opulent wine. -96 points *Moderately difficult to find, check online or a specialty wine shop.

NV Gosset Champagne- Enjoyed on the airplane. Made from Pinot Noir and Pinot Menueir grapes, this wine was dry and had a fruity character. Some mustiness as well. Effervescent and smooth. -91 points * *Moderately difficult to find, check online or a specialty wine shop.

NV Mumm Champagne- floral nose. It is both smooth and dry. Getting some citrus on the palate like orange and grapefruit. Some creamy elements as well. Very smooth throughout but not a ton of complexity. -90 points * Easy to find, check any wine shop or online.

2008 Matrromera Crianza- A Ribera that I bought at a gas station for -18 euros on the way from Madrid to Bilbao. The wine was purchased because I noticed our single serving friends drinking the same bottle at the restaurant last night in Madrid. So I deemed this a must buy. Slightly translucent color. From an adequate, Wine Spectator 87, vintage, I get plum, blackberry and spice on the nose. The palate has great acid. There are a ton of mouth-watering flavors thatamalgamate. Cranberry, red cherry, nutmeg, cedar and a minty edge to the wine. Nice balance and acid, this is a very fine wine. Maybe blueberries, spiceand anise too. Saw after tasting that Wine Enthusiast only gave it 87. I think they’re wrong. -90 points *Moderately difficult to find, check online.

2012 Marques de Riscal Reuda Blanco- 100% Verdejo, it has some citrus on the nose. Orange blossoms too. The palate is light but lacks concentration. A bit watery. Slightly sweet. Some grapefruit in there and maybe some peach. -84 points. * Easy to find, check any wine shop or online. Costco may carry this wine as well. Barely recommended but a decent value.

2007 Marques de Riscal Rioja Reserva- 90 percent Tempranillo and the rest indigenous varietals, this wine is from a less than esteemed vintage. Lighter, somewhat translucent color. Slightly skunky nose. Maybe mushroom and some terroir. This wine is fresher and less skunky than the 2006. Palate is lacking concentration and has red cherry, strawberry and has nice acid. Nice balance but lacking concentration of other vintages. -86 points * Easy to find, check any wine shop or online. Costco may carry this wine as well. Good value.

NV Marques de Riscal Rosato- nice nose, reminding me of floral nodes and perfume. Maybe some citrus too. Palate is sweet and lacking some acid. Very pleasant and it has a marked simplicity. Orange and red cherry. Finishes w marchiano cherry. -86 points * Easy to find, check any wine shop or online. Costco may carry this wine as well. Good value.

2004 Marques de Riscal Gran Reserva- from an amazing vintage, this wine has a deep color. Nose is oaky and pruny. The palate has graphite and black fruits. The concentration is outstanding with the heavy oak. Tastes almost like a Cab. Great acid and minerality. It could easily cellar for 5 years. Delicious wine. -93 points *Hard to find, check a speciality wine shop or check online.

2007 Finca Torrea (Marques de Riscal)- this is an additional label for Riscal. The color is deep, but slightly lighter than the Gran Reserva. Nose is smoky. Less oak on the nose and I’m getting lighter fruits. Palate is smooth anddelicious. Less concentration than the Gran Reserva. Balanced and acid is there. Prune, raspberry, vanilla and oak. Maybe pomegranate? The palate just blends so well together. Maybe also cinnamon, chocolate and strawberry. Drinking well now, will have a long life. -92 points *Very difficult to find, check online.

2005 Bodega LAN Gran Reserva- Deep hue, the wine was purchased at the winery. From the esteemed vintage, given 93 Wine Spectator. Nice Christmas spice and light fruit on the nose. After 30 mins the wine is more expressive. Some blackberry and leather with oak. She noticed the richness and acidity. Smoked meats and few better in there. Maybe some oak and tobacco elements with some citrus as well. Too young to drink now but very enjoyable. I’d drink in 2 years with the nice acidity and smoothness. -92 points *Difficult to find, check online or a specialty wine shop.

2009 Ontanon Crianza- 90 percent Termranillo and 10 percent Garancha. Fairly deep color for a Crianza. Black tea on the palate with smoked meats, strawberryand nice minerality. A little hollow but good wine. Tannic and probably needs time w the acid here. -88 points *Difficult to find, check online or a specialty wine shop.

2003 Vina Tondonia- 100 percent Vidura, Crianza wine. Heavy oak on the nose w some light flowers. Palate is dry and smooth. Very fresh and balanced. Strong minerality and copper components. Not a blockbuster but very nice. Some tang, maybe green apple, as it has a sour component. -92 points *Very difficult to find, check online or a specialty wine shop.

2001 Vina Tondonia Reserva- 75 percent Tempranillo and 15 percent Grenache. Lighter color and beautiful nose with flowers and dried fruits with some oak. There is a mustiness in the nose. I get cherry and mushroom as well. Palate has good acid and balance. Maybe raspberry and red cherry. The wine is less concentrated than expected. Getting raspberry, strawberry and red cherry. Drinks a lot like a Bordeaux, a fresh style. Would like more depth. -90 points. *Very difficult to find, check online or a specialty wine shop.

2008 Bodega Roda Reserva- 90 percent Tempranillo. Dark color. More smoke and earth than the Crianza. Darker fruits like plum with red cherry and raspberry. Maybe pomegranate and cranberry. Good acid. Drinking pretty well now by has the acid for many years of cellaring. -92 points. *Easy to find, check any wine shop or check online

2009 Bodega Roda Sela- 89 percent Tempranillo and 12 months in oak. Similar to a Crianza the wine has a lighter color. The nose is spicy and sweet. Maybe some cherry and raspberry. Very smooth and open. Strawberry and raspberry with guava on the palate. Small citrus component as well. Maybe blackberry and fruit leather. Very nice. -90 points *Very difficult to find, check online or a specialty wine shop.

2006 Roda I- Darker color than the other Roda wines. Getting tar, cedar and mushroom on the nose. Definitely an earthy nose. Closed right now. The ’04 was also very closed when tasted a month ago. Better viscosity than the others, a nice thickness, especially for the vintage. Reminds me of a right bank Bordeaux. Raspberry and blackberry with cherry. Nice acid, this can cellar for a decade. Better in 5 years. -93 points *Moderately difficult to find, check online or a specialty wine shop. Costco has previously carried the Roda I but I have not seen it in Northwest Costcos for more than one year.

Birthday Wines

I was lucky enough to celebrate my birthday last year with some fantastic wines from Napa. The wines might be a bit hard to find, but they all represent some of the best that Napa has to offer, for a somewhat reasonable value (hard to find value in Napa). Try to get your hands on these wines, as they are great for a special occasion. Here are the professional ratings that they received:

Napa Valley Cab Heavyhitters

2006 Ramey Cabernet-

"Bright ruby. Cherry and red berry aromas are complicated by dried rose, tobacco and fresh herbs. Juicy and intense, with gently sweet red and dark berry flavors and slow-mounting tannins. Becomes more floral with air and finishes with impressive clarity and spicy persistence. Eighty percent of the vines that provided this fruit are planted on steep hillsides, Ramey told me." 91 Points, International Wine Cellar

"The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon is a bigger, deeper effort revealing austere tannins in the finish, but also plenty of chocolaty, black currant fruit intermixed with licorice, roasted herbs, and underbrush. " 90 Points, The Wine Advocate

2007 Paul Hobbs Crossbarn Cabernet-

"Quite a distinguished Cabernet. Shows its pedigree in ultra-refined tannins and an overall mouthfeel of lushness and finesse. Flavor-wise, it’s all black currants, blueberries and sweet, smoky oak. Thirty-five dollars isn’t cheap, but this is as good as it gets in this price bracket."- 94 Points, Wine Enthusiast

2008 Chiarello Bambino Cabernet-

"Sleek and bursting with fresh cherry and raspberry fruit, this is built around a complex frame that deftly balances tannins and acidity. Offers notes of smoky pepper, sage and fresh anise. Drink now through 2015.” – 93 points, Wine Spectator

Washington Wines For Spring

Spring is nearly here. The sun is out and days are getting longer. Here in Washington State, everyone’s mood has been elevated by the promise that summer will soon arrive and backyard BBQs will follow. For the past decade, Washington State has been known for great values in wine. Mainstay wineries like Columbia Crest and Chateau St. Michelle continue to produce fantastic wines for a reasonable price.

Despite a cool summer, 2011 reds have shown to be better than many experts had anticipated. And keep your eyes on 2012 reds. Many wine buffs are saying that 2012 will go down as one of the best vintages in history for Washington wines. Here are some readily available wines for under $30 [and many under $15] that represent excellent values and hail from some of the best wineries in Washington.

Syrah

For more than a decade, Washington has been producing world-class Syrah. There are some blockbuster, 50 plus dollar Syrahs being made in Washington State. But for most of us, we want a great wine that brings out the smoked meats, dark fruits and light tannins that we expect from this varietal – without breaking the bank. Here are some great value options.

2011 Chateau St. Michelle Syrah- This is an extremely solid effort in a difficult vintage. Smoked meats and red cherry on the nose with some oak. Medium to full bodied, with good viscosity, flavors of red cherry, pomegranate and smoked meats persist. Light acidity suggests this one is a crack and pour. The wine is blended with some Viognier, Mourvedre and Grenache for some complexity. A perfect match for ribs. 25,000 cases produced, so pick up a few for your BBQ.– 88 points

2010 Gordon Estates Syrah- Hard to find a more complex Syrah for around 20 bucks. This is a crack and pour. Brooding, dark color, with black pepper and oak on the nose, leading to beef jerky, blackberry and plum flavors. Blended with 7% Cab which contributes to the rich fruit flavors and adds structure. Excellent value, pick up a few while you can. - 92 points

2011 Columbia Crest H3 Les Cheveaux- Columbia Crest uses fruit in this blend that is slightly below their Reserve tier. For many wineries, this wine would be their reserve blend. 75% Syrah and 25% Merlot. Cloves, cigar box and dark fruits on the nose. Good depth on the open palate with red cherry, blackberry, vanilla and black olive along fine grained tannins. Well-structured, this could cellar well for a couple of years, but why wait? -90 points

Merlot

Miles from the movie “Sideways” was dead wrong; Merlot is well worth a look. Washington Merlot is a food-friendly wine that is typically soft and smooth, with red and black fruit flavors of cherry, plums and blackberries – as well as occasional mint, chocolate and eucalyptus flavors and aromas. The price is right on these recommended wines.

2012 Hogue Merlot- One of Washington’s oldest wineries is known for great value wines. This has cherry and strawberry on the nose with some Christmas spice. Flavors of cherry, guava and strawberry on the palate - almost reminiscent of a pinot. Light bodied, with great acidity. Simplistic, but a tremendous value and readily available, with 30,000 cases produced. – 86 points

2011 Charles Smith The Velvet Devil Merlot- Charles Smith is one of the big players and is best known for his inky, heavy Syrahs. But his value Merlot offers nice richness in the color, having red bell pepper, herbaceousness and oak on the nose. The palate is smooth with pomegranate, red cherry and vanilla. 8% Malbec, 6% Cab and 3% Syrah in there to provide the backbone and complexity in what was generally a difficult and cold vintage for Washington. – 87 points

Cabernet Sauvignon/Blends

Cab is king right now and is definitely one of the bigger players in Washington. Known for dark fruits such as blackberry and black cherry, Washington Cabernet is typically done in an open style that invites us to sip more. Coffee, mocha and even black tea flavors and aromas can be seen Washington Cabs. There are some great Cabernet blends that represent some of the best value in the industry. Here are some of the best value Cabs and Cab blends that proudly represent Washington.

2012 Dunham Three Legged Red- Dunham uses their less esteemed fruit in this blend, but the Three Legged Red has been a consistent value for years. Dark garnet, the nose has blackberry, anise and black cherry with nutmeg. Tons of fruit including cherry pie, raspberry, strawberry and spice cake. A crowd pleaser in this Cab, Syrah and Merlot blend. -89 points

2010 Airfield Estates Cabernet- A great Northwest winery that produces everything from Coinoise to Cab. The winery is known for small production and attention to detail for a fraction of Napa labels. Dark color with blackberry, cassis, dark cherry with oak. Similarly attractive palate with dark cherry, blackberry, tomato and olive collected with some medium tannins. Drinking great now. -90 points

2011 Columbia Crest Grand Estates Cabernet- The grand estates Cab been a great value wine for years. You’d be hard pressed to find a better Cabernet in this price range. Plum and cherry with oak and buttered toast on the nose. Palate is well-balanced and has fig, vanilla and cherry preserves. Excellent effort. -87 points

2011 Chateau St. Michelle Indian Wells Cabernet- Complex nose with nutmeg, coffee, chocolate and stewed plum with the oak. Cassis, blackberry and anise with coffee on the palate. Great acidity suggests you could wait a few years before opening this one, but drinking nicely now. 10% Syrah was added in this cool vintage.- 90 points

2011 Fidelitas Cabernet [Columbia Valley]- 100% Cab, sourced from a variety of Columbia Valley vineyards, the nose needs some time to develop, leading to fresh cut flowers, blackberry and anise with cinnamon. Vibrant acidity and minerality in a Bordelaise style. Black cherry and anise flavors sing after an hour of decanting. Very solid. -90 points

2010 Sagelands Cabernet- Here is a value wine that performs every year. Made from a blend of 80% Cab, 15% Merlot and the rest Syrah and Malbec, there is a softness evident from the Merlot. Oak and vanilla with some rose petals on the nose. This fruit-forward Cab has cherry, strawberry and sage. A steal for under 10 bucks. -87 points

2010 Seven Hills Cabernet [Columbia Valley]- From one of Walla Walla’s oldest wineries, this wine is a fascinating blend. 80% Cab with 9% Cab Franc and 5% Carmenere, 5% Petit Verdot and 2% Malbec. Really needs about an hour to fully develop. Wonderfully dark, the nose has cassis and blackberry with some oak. Blackberry and cranberry add to this tangy and layered wine with chocolate and black olive, finishing with a light tannic backbone. Drink now or cellar for a couple of years -91 points